Alstom JV lands £2bn HS2 contract

A joint venture involving Derby train-maker Alstom has landed the £2 billion contract to deliver the new fleet of trains for HS2.

The firm, along with fellow train-builder Hitachi Rail, has been awarded the deal by HS2 Ltd to design, build and maintain 54 state-of-the-art high-speed trains, which will operate on the new line between London, the West Midlands and Crewe.

The work to build the trains will be shared between Alstom’s factory in Litchurch Lane, Derby and Hitachi’s facility in County Durham.

Nick Crossfield, Alstom’s managing director for the UK and Ireland, said: “HS2 is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform Britain by building a sustainable transport system fit for the 21st century.”

The awarding of the contract to Alstom and Hitachi Rail has been welcomed by leading figures in Derby.

Councillor Chris Poulter, leader of Derby City Council, said: “We are really delighted with this news and congratulate the whole team at Alstom – and their partners at Hitachi – on winning this £2 billion contract.”

John Forkin, managing director of Marketing Derby, said: “This is fantastic, simply brilliant, news for Derby and we congratulate the team at Alstom and partners in winning the £2 billion bid to build the HS2 trains.”

Nick Crossfield added: “I am delighted that Alstom’s joint venture with Hitachi Rail has been selected to develop, build and maintain in Britain the next generation of high-speed trains.”

Councillor Chris Poulter added: “We have always had an active and supportive relationship with the company and will work with them to ensure they can deliver the new assembly line and have the local skills and supply chain to underpin this whenever possible.

“Derby has been synonymous with the rail industry since its inception and this announcement will greatly enhance our bid to secure the headquarters of Great British Rail for the city.”

John Forkin added: “It’s a massive vote of confidence in the technology and workforce and will provide a positive platform for greater investment in the local rail supply chain, as well as in the wider Derby economy.”

A study commissioned by the joint venture estimates that the award could generate benefits of £157 million per year across the UK and support 2,500 jobs, including opportunities for apprenticeships and graduates.

Capable of speeds of up to 225 mph, the fully electric trains will also run on the existing rail network to places such as Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester and the northwest.

Building on the latest technology from the Japanese Shinkansen ‘bullet train’ and European high-speed network, they will be some of the fastest, quietest and most energy efficient high-speed trains operating anywhere in the world.

They will be designed to operate seamlessly between HS2 and the existing rail network.

Each train will be around 200 metres long, with the option to couple two units together to create a 400-metre-long train with up to 1,100 seats.

They will also be 15% lighter and offer 30% more seats than comparable high-speed trains in Europe – such as the Italian ETR1000 built by another joint venture between Hitachi Rail and Alstom.

The design, manufacture, assembly, and testing of the new trains will be shared between Hitachi Rail and Alstom.

The first stages, including vehicle body assembly and initial fit-out, will be done at Hitachi Rail’s facility at Newton Aycliffe.

The second stage of fit out and testing will be done at Alstom’s Litchurch Lane factory, which employs 2,000 people.

All the bogies, which house the wheelsets, will both be assembled and maintained at Alstom’s Crewe facility.

Mark Thurston, chief executive of HS2 Ltd, said: “The trains that will be built in Derby, Newton Aycliffe and Crewe will transform rail travel – offering passengers unparalleled levels of reliability, speed and comfort and help in the fight against climate change.

“I’d like to congratulate Alstom and Hitachi and I look forward to working with them as together we bring these exciting new trains to passengers across the UK.”

The first train is expected to roll off the production line around 2027.

Following a rigorous process of testing and commissioning, the first passengers are expected to be carried between 2029 and 2033.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “This announcement places Britain firmly at the forefront of the high-speed rail revolution with these state-of-the-art trains serving communities right across the country from London to Glasgow.

“This is another landmark step in the delivery of HS2, which will open up new employment and leisure opportunities for millions of people, levelling up opportunity for generations to come.”

A video of the new HS2 trains can be viewed here.